Along the beach of the Adriatic, from Italy to Slovenia and Croatia

Today you have the choice of either cycling along the dam and lagoon to Venice or through the hinterland along the river Sile to get to Jesolo/Caorle. You cycle the first few kilometers to the lagoon city, then take the ferry to Punta Sabbioni (ticket not included in the package price). Numerous fishing boats and souvenir stalls line your way along the endless beaches at Litorale di Cavallino - a headland in the north-west of the lagoon. Before you leave Venice through the “back entrance”, you have the opportunity to take a walk to the lighthouse at the far end of the island. Your gaze wanders over the lagoon city and its islands one last time. On the way to Jesolo it's hard to resist the opportunity to take a refreshing dip into the cooling water. If you choose the hinterland alternative, you will travel along the Sile River. Precisely because the natural river always carries a constant amount of water and flows calmly, the name of this river was derived from the Latin “silet”, which means “to be silent, to be quiet”. Passing the ruins of Torre Caligo, a medieval tower that rises near the Caligo canal of the same name, you go straight to Jesolo.

Overnight place: Jesolo/Caorle

Along the coast and past the last fishing huts you first reach Caorle, a small seaside resort. Now it's time to take leave from the sea, the mainland sets the direction, and the Julian Alps appear on the horizon. At the height of the Venetian Republic, Portogruaro, located inland, was an important river port of the “Serenissima”. Even today, many people still claim that Portogruaro is probably the most “Venetian” city in the interior. And they're probably not entirely wrong when you look at the many magnificent buildings and palaces that are characterized by Venetian elements.

Overnight place: Concordia Sagittaria/Portogruaro

There is also a lot to discover away from the beaches on the Adriatic: Roman ruins, ancient churches and lonely landscapes on the edge of the lagoon. From Marano Lagunare you take the ship to just before Aquileia, once a large city of the Roman Empire. Excavations of the Roman city can be visited in the outdoor area and in two museums.

Overnight place: Grado/Aquileia

At the beginning of today's stage you cycle through the hinterland of Trieste into a barren rocky landscape riddled with caves, before returning to the sea to a coastal area of ​​unique beauty. Where the karst plateau plunges into the deep blue waters and the white cliffs rise straight to the sky above the sea, follow the coastal road through suggestive towns such as Duino, Sistiana, Miramare and Barcola. You should take time to visit the romantic castle of Miramare above the Bay of Grignano in the middle of a wonderful park in which more than 2000 plant species thrive. The city of the same name rises above the Gulf of Trieste, once a port metropolis of the Habsburg Empire, where you will spend today's day.

Overnight place: Triest

After just a few kilometers it's time to say goodbye to Italy today. In Slovenia you cycle mainly on Cycle Pathen through well-known seaside resorts such as Koper (Capodistria) and Izola (Isola d'Istria) to Piran (Pirano) or Portorož (Portorose), a health resort on the Slovenian Riviera. The slightly longer version of this stage leads through the “Val Rosandra” valley in the hinterland.

*on your own, ticket NOT included.

Overnight place: Piran/Portoroz

You cycle past the Sečovlje salt marshes, where sea salt is produced through natural evaporation over huge areas, and cross the border into Croatia. We continue through the Croatian part of Istria, the largest peninsula in the Adriatic, in slightly hilly terrain to Poreč, the most important coastal town on the west coast of Istria. The Euphrasian Basilica, which has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage list, is a must-see.

Overnight place: Porec

Departure on your own. It is possible to stay in Poreč to extend.

Overnight place: Porec